I'm the author of POWERING UP! How America's Women Achievers Become Leaders, a City Councilwoman in Auburn HIlls, MI and a global speaker. I've been tested for decades in some of the toughest leadership laboratories for women: sports locker rooms, the global auto industry, elected office and single parenting. My son, Kevin, is 21. I'm a grown-up Annie Oakley, horse lover. My red hair is the first clue that I'm passionate about my purpose, which is to help push the edges of opportunity for girls and women. Website: www.annedoylestrategies.com. Email: info@annedoylestrategies.com. Facebook: poweringupwomen. Twitter: annedoyleldr.

Behind Black Robes, Hijabs And Niqabs, Saudi Women Are Dreaming Big

If you think “Saudi feminist” is an oxymoron, come with me behind the walls of the female side of the campus of Prince Mohammad University (PMU), a new, private, co-ed center of higher education in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, just across the Arab (Don’t say Persian!) Gulf from Iran.

Yes, a 20 foot wall separates male and female students in a country where unrelated women and men aren’t allowed to mingle, not even for a cup of coffee at the local StarbucksStarbucks. But once inside PMU’s female, inner sanctum — where all classes are taught in English, you will meet a new generation of ambitious, highly-educated Saudi women who remind me of young, American feminists in the 60’s and 70’s.

Behind those mysterious, black robes that sweep the ground, head-shrouding hijabs hiding every wisp of hair and face-covering niqabs that reveal only their dark, often-heavily made-up eyes, are confident, ambitious and often well-traveled young females positioning themselves for lives and, yes, careers that their mothers and grandmothers barely dreamt of.

It was a rare privilege to engage – as an American career woman, elected official and life-time change agent — not only with female university students, but also with progressive-minded Saudis of both sexes — entrepreneurs, PhD business and academic leaders, medical professionals and journalists. Yes, I donned an abaya everywhere in public. But once inside buildings, I was advised by my hosts to “Take off the abaya and present yourself as an American woman leader.”

Everywhere I went, I was greeted with great warmth, respect and a hunger for cross-culture discussion and stories, particularly related to changing roles of women that I have witnessed and helped to lead in my own country. Each interaction reinforced a powerful impression that this very young (only 80 years-old), oil-rich nation, is emerging from the restrictions of its ancient, once-nomadic culture and is standing on the verge of seismic change.

If that sounds like an exaggeration, consider the long-term implications of these facts:

In one generation the kingdom has gone from one of the highest illiteracy rates (60%) in the world to one of the highest literacy (96%) rates.

Since 2005, an average of 100,000 Saudis a year, including women, have been studying abroad, primarily at U.S. universities. Tuition and expenses paid by King Abdullah’s Scholarship Program.

Saudis are some of the largest users of the Internet. Arabic is the fastest growing language on Twitter. Saudis watch more than 90 million videos daily on YouTube –the largest national viewership in the world.

The Rise of Saudi Women

But it is the steady rise of Saudi women and the changing gender dynamics it will inevitably trigger that has me holding my breath in anticipation.

King Abdullah is considered “pro women,” but is close to 90.

Beginning in 2015 women will be allowed to vote and run for office in municipal elections, thanks to a decree from King Abdullah. In January, the monarch also named thirty women to the Shura Council – another phenomenal and historic step.

All the evidence you need of what that means for the future can be found in the faces, academic credentials and ambitions of the female students and young professionals I met. Women such as:

PMU Student Council leaders who told me about their election campaigns and gave me a tour of their campus, including the swimming pool, weight room and basketball court they share equally –on separate days — with male students.

Nouf, who wants to be Saudi’s first female astronaut.

Retal, who plans to be part of the first generation of female lawyers to practice law in their courts.

Hawra who writes a blog in English to share the voice of a young Saudi female with anyone who is listening.

There was no need for me to urge the Saudi women I met to “lean in” or “power up.” Their next big hurdle is professional opportunity. The unemployment rate for Saudi women, including the growing numbers with college and graduate degrees is 34% — five times higher than the rate for men.

Give Them Hope

“What could I say? What insightful gift could I share?” I wondered, as I prepared to speak to several hundred young women coming of age in the 21st Century at a time of change — but in one of the most gender restrictive cultures in the world? I put that question to Dr. Hanadi AbdelSalam, Director of PMU’s Female Campus, and Rania Sinno (both in the fountain picture above), two brilliant, academic leaders who are passionate about developing “their girls” into thinkers, problem solvers and engaged global citizens.

“Give them hope,” they told me. “Tell them your story. Tell them the stories and struggles of American women who overcame discrimination and opened doors of opportunity in your country.” So I did. And the Saudis I was privileged to meet were astonished to discover how similar the journey American women have been travelling for over 100 years is to the one they are just beginning.

Let’s root for them to have the courage to lead the way. Watch how their “Shero’s” journey unfolds. And celebrate each step forward they take for womankind. Because when our global sisters rise, we all rise.

Post Your Comment

Post Your Reply

Forbes writers have the ability to call out member comments they find particularly interesting. Called-out comments are highlighted across the Forbes network. You'll be notified if your comment is called out.

Comments

Can women drive a car? Can women call cops after getting a beating from their husband, because it’s considered a crime? Is child marriage illegal or not? How about polygamy? What are the rules about male guardianship? Can a woman travel, check into a hospital, open a bank account?

You know, the Saudi government PR machine is working over-time (and they can afford it, because the money we spend at gas pumps go straight to them) in order to spread this propaganda about how wonderful life is as a Saudi woman. And the sad thing is, women like the author here and websites like forbes participate in this crap–and expect people in the civilized world to fall for it.

What Saudi women go through is not what women went through a hundred years ago. These women live in the seventh century, in a country that says the Koran is the Constitution. Wife-beating is legal. Child marriage is legal. Women are considered children perpetually under sharia.

Don’t write pieces like this and expect people to fall for it, like we’re stupid enough to think “Wow! I guess it’s not so bad!” The Wahhabi form of Islam that infects Saudi Arabia is the most backwards, misogynistic, anti-liberal ideology on the planet, and it spreads across the globe funded by petrodollars supplied by us, people like you and me when we go to the gas station.

What a disgusting travesty. I’m referring to this ridiculous article and the entire situation in Saudi. I guess they think a PR campaign will prevent a revolt like the ones that took down Mubarak, Qaddafi, Ali. Keep wishing.

Anne Doyle’s short trip to Saudi Arabia can not properly learn and give directions to a different Culture and tradition. Anne thinks that he could move the flag of feminism where ever she visits-wrong! Cultures in the East are deep rooted and equally respect their females and families. The Western disease of single motherhood, dating, drink & dance or other similar “use of women” as a show case girl can never be implanted in Saudi /Islamic Culture. Anne read and learn about Islam, piety, respect for family life and high moral grounds before writing a blog/book and grab returns(money).

What you really meant to say is that husbands can legally beat their wives under Islamic laws.

Cultures in the East? RESPECT FOR THEIR FEMALES? High moral grounds?

You, my dear, is what is wrong with Islam. You aren’t intelligent enough to talk about feminism, or anything else. Drinking and dance? As opposed to child marriage and polygamy?

Btw, I’d bet a million dollars you’re another hypocrite living in the West while screaming about how great Islam is. I guess that’s why the Middle East is such a wonderful place! Move to Syria or Libya and say that.

Wow, talk about a useful idiot. This sounds like a paid advert for Arab oppression. When you engage with misogynistic theocrats you do nothing more than legitimize their position. As long as Wahabbis rule the roost Arab culture is and always will be planted firmly (and willfully) in the Dark Ages.

Peter D — I was not engaging with “misogynistic theocrats.” I was engaging with the educated, enlightened change agents of the Kingdom who are helping to lead a young nation, emerging from a very ancient, deeply-rooted culture, into the 21st Century.

Well certainly I was suprised of the accomplishments that the Saudi women have persued and won. I had always invisioned as the Saudi female as a surbiant to the male population with no freedoms of any kind which probably was the way it use to be. But now I happy to read such an interesting article, YOU ALL GO GIRLS and good luck in your future trials.

1 Corinthians 11:5 But every woman praying or prophesying with her head not covered, disgraceth her head: for it is all one as if she were shaven. 1 Corinthians 11:4-6 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 11 (Whole Chapter) 2. Corinthians 11:6 For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head. 1 Corinthians 11:5-7 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 11 (Whole Chapter) 3. Corinthians 11:7 A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 1 Corinthians 11:6-8 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 11 (Whole Chapter)

4 Corinthians 11:13 What do you think? Does it look right for a woman to talk to God in public with her head not covered? 1 Corinthians 11:12-14 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 11 (Whole Chapter)

5. So that is why a woman should have her head covered with something that shows she is under authority. Also, she should do this because of the angels. 1 Corinthians 11:9-11 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 11 (Whole Chapter) 6. Corinthians 11:15 But wearing long hair is a woman’s honor. Long hair is given to the woman to cover her head. 1 Corinthians 11:14-16 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 11 (Whole Chapter)

WHAT THE HOLY QUR’AN SAYS ABOUT HIJAB

“Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do.” [Holy Qur’an, Chapter 24:Verse 30]

“And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers or their brothers’ sons, or their sisters’ sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O ye Believers! Turn ye all together towards Allah, that ye may attain Bliss.” [Holy Qur’an, Chapter 24:Verse 31]

Congratulations on this feat!!! I am not going to lie it has taken way way way too long to be. College education should be free in the US as you would see a happier thriving society, less worry and more joy!

Why should I not say Persian Gulf? It is the rightful name of the body of water between Iran and Saudi Arabia, as noted by historians and the United Nations. Every United States textbook from grade-school to college uses the term Persian Gulf. The false name you used is incorrectly used by a few Arab nations. You need to get your facts checked and don’t tell the readers what not to call the Persian Gulf.

Ps. by the tone of your article, it seems to me that on your trip you may have used Persian Gulf, but that you were corrected by the locals there and pressured to use “arab gulf” instead

Dear Anon, YOu are correct that my reference is to the perspective of the Saudis, which is the side of the Gulf I was visiting. They do not call it the Persian Gulf, because of the long and deeply-strained relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran (Persia). If I were visiting the other side of the Gulf, I would call it the Persian Gulf.

Although I’m all for women empowering themselves, making something of their lives, and being a positive contributor to society, these women live in a world where the oppression of women is given, a law. Basically, they are only going to set themselves up for harsher abuse, punishment, and death for violating that law(Sharia Law). Furthermore, Saudis are the worst of the Islamists. Forget about Pakis, forget about Iraqis, forget about Afghanis, Saudis are at the top of the low-life list of Islam; self-serving, arrogant, holier-than-thou elitists (puke).

No question the road ahead for them is very tough, Timothy. But for another perspective on the tough and very long road American women have been travelling, hope you’ll watch the movie, Iron-Jawed Angels, starring Hillary Swank as Suffragette Alice Paul. It’s a fascinating and true story that too many Americans just don’t know.

All HOGWASH, I have been to Saudi Arabia,women are completely isolated and locked up.The chaffeurs drive them around,while husbands are busy with Lebannese and Egyptian women.Very often the vast number of princes have a rollickin time by bringing in hordes of Frnch prostitutes.